Motor-driven timing device for well pumps



Oct. 2l', 1930. s. B. REDFIELD 1,779,251

MOTOR DRIVEN TIMIG DEVICE Fon WELL' PUMPS Filed Dec. 1e, 1927 Patented oet. Y21, 1930 l ,PATENT OFFICE UNITED STATES SNOWDEN B. KREDIFIIEILD,l OF EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO INGERSOLL-RAND COMPANY, yOIF ERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY k1M0'10R-DIR-IITEN TIMING :DEVICEy FOR WELL PUMPS Application led December 16, 1927. Serial No. 240,488.`

rlhis invention relates to well pumps, but more particularly to a well pump having a tank adapted to be located in the well, and provided with a pressure fluid supply pipe and a dischargepipein thel usual manner.

In accordance with this invention lthe pumping operations are regulated by a motor driven timing device, whichis so timed that the well tank will ll with oil or other liquid before thev main pressure fluid is again supplied to discharge the tank.

The objects of the invention are to produce a timing device which is regulated with certainity and precision and controls the o peration of an exhaust valve with which the main Control valve of the pump is operatively connected. Another object is to enable the well tank to be exhausted through the exhaustvalve during the Whole time-required for the tankto fill. 4 v I Thepump may be operated with either compressed air or natural gas or any' other suitable pressure fluid medium.A depending on the nature of the fluid to be pumped. In the case of natural gas, there would be no exhaustv to atmosphere, but the exhaust would take place to a tank or receptacle of materiallyl lower pressurethan the Ina-in pressure of the supply. :In those vcases `in this specification in which the term exhaust to atmosphere is used, it is'to be understood that said exhaust will beto any region of'low pressure in the'case of natural gas, or gas of a similar nature as the pressure medium.,y f

. I The vi-nventionis illustratedtin one ofv its preferred forms in the accompanying draw# inv which is a vdiagrammatic View partly Ain A' vertical section and partly broken away showing a well and Well pump constructedl in accordance with the invention.V`

. Referring to the drawing, the well tank A is located in the well B preferably having the casing Gand the tank is provided with the usual pressure fluid supply pipe D and the discharge pipe E preferably having the small aeration hole F in the foot piece, by means of which the pressurerfluid raerates the discharging column of oil on 'the air lift principle.

The hole F may be of any suitable diameter i tank A.

plunger,

and is preferably located in thefdischarge pipe at a point intermediate the ends of the `llhepreciae location of the hole F depends of course to some. extent upon the length of the tanky A, but in practice it has been found that good results may be obtained'V by locating the hole F nearer the bottom Iof the tank than the tcp. Due to this arrangement the hole F Will be submerged by the oil rising in the tank. so that when pre'ssurefluid oil therefrom a column of oil of considerable Vis admitted into the tankfor discharging the' Y length will be raised in thepipe Ebef'o're the hole F is uncovered.

The column of oilv inthe pipe may be thus raised'to a considerable height before,pres" Y1 sure fluid is admittedV through the hole Fv'into the pipe E to aerate and' extend it towards the discharge'opening of the pipe E. It will therefore be seen-that there will be-no wastage of pressure fluid fromthe tank through the hole F and thedischarge pipefE before the oilV v in the discharge pipe has risen to a height Where aeration will be helpful in lifting the oil to the surface.

`The main pressure fluid supply to the well tank from the reservoir G is controlled by the main control'rvalve or vchoke valve H in the casing J and the exhaust from 'the well tank is controlled by the exhaust valve K in the casing L. The body K of 'this exhaust valve K is fully open to atmosphere or a region of low pressure in case natural is used from the` moment all, the oil' is, discharged from the Well tankuntil the next discharge' period starts, so that oil mayfill'the Well tank.`

TheV exhaust valve may construction, and in this instancel comprises a double ended plunger-.having the heads 22 and23 yconnected by the rod 2li. A shoe or valve body 25 is held between the shoulders 26 and 27 on the heads and moves with the and a set screw 28 engaging a slot 29 in vtheivalve Vbody forms a guide for the valve body An aperture 30 in the head 23 permits pres" sure fluid to pass from the main central portion of the valve casing to the end of the casing beyond the head`23, and also permits reand prevents it from rotating. y

be of any suitable y casing); upon reduction of pressuie iu the central portion of the valve casing'. Full ,supply pressure from the main source et supply against the einer surface ot the head will cause the exhaust valve to nieve to the lett into the position :indi .ated in the drawing when there reduction et opposing' pressure yagainst the outer surface ot the head When the exhaust valve is in the exhaust position indicated in the drawing the main sup ply o1 pressure {iai-'l to 'the well tank is cut oli' and the said tin i is open to atmesphere threiigh the exhaust opening),1 and pipe l2 ou the f'alve easing `idicated.

A pressure fluid actuated motor driven timingI deviee i udicated generally hy the character O is se coi'istrueted that the speed et the motor can he regulated hy a hand valve te vary the time as desired in whieh the well tank is permitted te lill with liquid to he pumped.

The pne iu'iatie meter or engage diagrammatically may he olii any type operatively connected to dri v R through appropriau-.z nief'nauism. aw' this cam valve in turn control., the qgeratien ol the exhaust valve li. The motor i) is eentrolled hy the pilot valve S which in turn is controlled hv the movement oi the exhaust valve K. A Cam f'alve plunger T in the (,fasiufg U operates in coujuuetien with the cam wheel Q in eeutrelfing the am valve l. The ain `valve l. held in raised position as indicated in the drawingand permits supply pressure duid to pass through pipes V and XV from the receiver (if to the right hand end et the efdiaust valve easing holding the exhaust valve epen long pressure is nniiutained upon the cani valve plunger T. W

A ysmall receiver X ceilneeted by pipes a and Z) between the plan easing VU and the main supply pipe l) el" the well tank, and a. check valve c of any well known type is located in the pipe 7).', h aviu a' a restriction whirl.

permits rapid flew oif pre1-i ure duid freni the well. pipe l) to the reeel ver X, hut restricts the flew in the opposite directien.I so that the flew is slow. During;v tl time that they pressure in the well tank il is low after the discharge oi the eontents, the pressure in the receiver X dees .not reduce materialiy owing' to the rheek valve c, so that suii'ieient pressure is u'iaintainr-vl ou lthe cam plui T to hold the plunger down in the posil. indicated in the dra wing, and hold the lever (l down zui'ainst the pressure of the retractiny; spring 0. The lever al is pivoted at 7" onY the h acket g/ aud the opposite end of the lever pivoted at 7i, to a latch Carrying a spring' 7i and slidahly engaging a ystein o which bears against the hall valve y?. A red g hears on the valve p and a hall Valve 9' is actuated hy the rod g] against a spring s.

rweem to raise ti s phu fer, the engine P will have started wiil latch. will not l C2 l ,un uut will hear upon 'the periphery of the cam until one revolution of the cam brings the notch beneath the latch y', and din-ing` thi` revoiutiou et the ca n, the Cani valve R will he maintained in raised position as shown in the dri wing.

The speed ei the motor or ei'igiue i? is reguated by the throttle valve u, se that the cam wheel Q5 makes one revolution during` the time .quired Vor the iillingu of the well tank tl' tii'ne peri/ed the pressure af" s ateo has heefL "edificed or exhausted above t ie am plunger i, so that when the notch f' arrives beneath the latch y', the latch will drop into the nctcln4 and permit the stein o .hl

la tali., sfthat both eall valves p and r change their positions, causing the reversal of the exhaust valve K and supplying' pressure fluid to discharge the well.

The main control Valve er choke valve H has opened and remains. open during the period that the well tank A is iilling, and pressure iluid supply is cut oil' from the well tank at the exhaustvalve K until the descrihed operation oi.' the cam valve l. The nijain control falve H comprises a cup or sleeve e hitting' slidahly but tightly over a plug or guide fw and the inside el' the cup is connected by a pipe c to a balancing receiver Y which in turn is connected hy pipe ".1/ and cheek *alve Z oil" any well known Vtype te the main well tank s 1'oply pipe l). The check ietion which permits the valve Z has a re. supplyY peessure in the well supply pipe D te pass quickly Vte the inside of the cup fu el the main vaive H to balance said Valve as Yliar pressure is eonceruech but this restriction permits the pressure to leak out slowly and wn the well when the pressure in the well tank i is exhausted during' the time that the well tank is filling. The object of the restriction in the check Valve Z is to aliord a time element so that the change of pressure within the cup e of 'the main Valve H always lags hehiud the pressure iu the well. TWhen the ifull simply pressure is supplied to the well tank 'lor discharging the well tank, the full pressure is more or less quickly supplied to the iusi de oit' the cup u, and when the pressure in the well tank is exhausted, the pressure in the cup v is more slowly reduced.

` T ie main vL lve H has a flange 3 seating on the 4. and a collar 5 liorming a restriction hetween the collar and the si de of the valve casing.y A springt ,tends toforcethevalve open whenpressure Within the cup o is reduced sufliciently by reduction of lthe Vpressure in the well tank after thedischarge of the tank contents as describedk 'llhernoinen-v tary rush Vor pressure fluid'ro1n'the'r main reservoir G through the pipe 7 andl past the restriction formed by the valve collar. 5, and

vdown the .pipe 8, throughthe exhaust'valve l 101 K and through theopipe 9 to the well tank,

.when the well tank .contents'is fullyidischarged, blows the main valve Hshut.Y VAfter the main valve Hhas reopened vduring the .filling period, yand main pressure luid is again supplied to the well tank for discharging the'tank, the main valve will not again ybe rblown shut by this second rush ofi pressure fluid, because the pressure inside the cup `has at that time been exhausted and the valve spring 6 holds the valve open. More par-l ticularly the high pressure in easing J holds cup valve o in up `position veryV powerfully, as the cup is exhausted.

The inain valve casing J is provided with a small vent or .leak port 10s0 that Vwhen the pressure in the main Well pipes 8, 9 and D drops dueto the completion of. discharge, the leakage of pressure fluid through'ithevent 10 permits pressure [to HVquickly buildup through pipe' 8,' and in *the exhaust valve casing L. This vent 10 maybe made, adjustable if desired by .means oi'v a needle .valve (not` shown). -It is here to be understood that the parts are inth'eposition indicated in thedrawing, in which main rsupply pressure 1s cutr ott yfrom the well and the f exhaust valve is still in *exhaust position.

The restoration of pressure through the venti 10 and 'underneath the mainlvalve. H will' tend to balance the fluidpressures inside 'I the valve 'H i and outside the valve and cause to reopen under the liniuenee of the vspring 6. The building up or' pressure in the exhaust valve casing L will not cause the exhaust valve K to move, since all internal movable parts will be under thesalne pressure on all pressure surfaces, except.y insidev orunder the valve K itself' whenv open. to the exhaustpipe or vent 12. The pressure fluid however'leakingthrough-vent '10 iin the i main valve casing, will thenlpa'ssthrough the pipe 13 connected to the vexhaust `valve casing and also connected tothe casing 14: of the motorpilot valve 'Si vThe piston '15 oi the motor pilot valve will be` actuated to force the-ball valves 1G land 17 and the separating pin 18 against rthe resistance vof the valve spring 19, thus permitting Amain actuating pressure VHuid to* pass to the motor P A,through the pipe 20 connected to the' main supply through' the niain valve casing J. The motor will then start to yrotate the' cam wheel Q and after one revolution, clockwise starting from thev positionindicated Ain the drawing, the cam plunger T will have been "dicated in fluid has been supplied raised by theplunger spring e, dueto' the exhaustion ofrvpressu're above the plunger',

and thelatch j will fallfinto the notch t 1n v:the .earn wheel, when 'said notch cornes under "theflatclt A swingingspring pre'ssed'plate` 21 actsuas a spring stop for the latchyQto Lprevent breakage of parts in case the'motor or engine should over travel after the latch engages `the notch. 'The dropping of the 'latch Vj, 4causes movement 'ofy the ball Valves p, and 1 to reverse `,positions Vfrom those vinthe drawings, so that the pipe W connected to theexhaust `valve casing L is vented to atmosphere through the vent pipe 22?, andthe pressure up in `the exhaust valve easing forces the exhaust valve K to the right in position to supply main pressure fluid tank;

, Let it beassumed that all the parts are 1n the posit-ions indicatedin the drawing at. a time just after thewell tank A has been dis-4 charged and is beginning to ll again with oil.-` 'The main control valve is open 'and' is held open by the springbeeausethe pres-V "sure inside the valve cup o Aor exhausted back through the pipe ,.ba1anc -has been reduced ing receiver.. Y, check valve Z and p ipe y. The exhaust valve K has been moved to its left hand or exhaust position and isrheld in such hold the exhaustv valve in? exhaust position.

fluid has leaked through thevent 10 inthe m'ain'valve casing, and has built up pressure in the exhaust valve casing, and such pressure through pipe 13 to the motor pilot Valve 'plunger plunger to actuate the ball valves 16 and 17 and admit motive fluid from pipe 20 to the motor tostart theinotor.

` During the time required for the rotation of the cam wheel Q, through one revolution, the

cam plunger T is'released and the-latch rests upon the periphery of the cam wheel until the notch t again comes opposite the latch, so that the latch drops into'the notch and stops the motor and also permits the ball valves p and which has been built;V

The operation lof thepump will be re-l T to rise under the influence. so that the cam valve R, 1n-v Before the main valve H reopens, pressure l 15, causing saidv 4down the ywell 'tank supply pipe yfor discharging the wellr ffluid'to the headv 22 of the exhaustrvalveto r to change position. The pipe W then opened to atmosphere through vent pipe 22u and the pressure Within the exhaust valve casing will force the exhaust valve K to the right, until the head 22 stops against the casing head.

The exhaust valve is then in discharge position, it having been assumed that suiiicient time has been allowed to permit the Well tank to lill with oil. Main supply pressure fluid now passes thro-ugh the main control valve which is open, through pipe 8, around exhaust valve K, and through pipes 9 and D to the Well tank A to discharge the same. The motor pilot valve pipe 13 is also open to atmosphere through vent pipe 12 on the exhaust valve casing, and the pilot valve S has cut ofi' pressure supply from the motor.

Pressure is being built up in the main control valve cup o from the balancing reveiver Y, so that the sudden rush of pressure fluidv past the main valve collar 5, owing to the-co1n pletion of discharge, and. reduction of pressure in the Well tank Will blow the main valve H shut, but this valve will reopen when the pressure inside the cup o again reduces. The building up of pressure in the exhaust valve casing by leakage through the vent hole l() in the main valve casing has been described in order to start the motor and the cycle of operations is repeated indefinitely.

The manner in Which the oil is aerated dur ing its passage through the discharge pipe E to the surface is as follows: As the liquid in the Well and therefore in the tank A and the discharge pipe E rises, the hole F Will be covered thereby. The liquid will continue rising until the devices provided for discharging the liquid from the tank are set in operation. The pressure fluid will then flow into 'the tank A and acting on the surface 4of the liquid therein will force the liquid through the discharge pipe E and Will therefore lower the level of the liquid in the tank A. After the hole F is uncovered. pressure fluid will flow through said hole into the discharge pipe ll where it will n'iingle with the oil column therein and assist in raising it by extending it toward the outlet of the discharge pipe.

I claim:

1. In a timing device, the combination with a pressure fluid supply pipe, of a main pressure fluid control valve, an exhaust valve located in the main supply pipe on the downstream end of the main valve, a motor and a timing device driven thereby, said exhaust valve operating to cut ofl` the flow of pressure fluid through the supply pipe and to vent said supply pipe between the main control valveand the point `of pressure fluid delivery, and also operating to control the supply and exhaust of pressure fluid for the said motor, and a timing valve controlled by the timing device for controlling the exhaust valve.

2. In a timing device, the combination with a pressure fluid supply pipe, a main pressure fluid control valve, an exhaust valve located in the supply pipe between the main valve and the point of pressure fluid delivery, a motor and cam Wheel timing device driven thereby, said exhaust valve operating to cut off the flow of pressure fluid through the supply pipe and open the outlet end of said supply pipe to exhaust and also operating to control the supply and exhaust of pressure fluid for the said motor, and a cam valve controlled by said cam Wheel timing device for controlling the exhaust val-ve.

In a timing device, the combination with. a pressure fluid supply pipe, oi. a main pressure fluid control valve, an exhaust valve located in the main supply pipe between the main valve and the outlet of the supply pipe, said exhaust valve operating to cut ofi' the iloiv of pressure fluid through the supply pipe and open the down-stream portion of the supply pipe to exhaust, a motor and cam wheel timing device driven thereby, meter pilot valve controlled by the exhaust valve, and a. cam valve controlled by said cam VWheel timing device for controlling the cxhaast valve.

a. In a timing device, the coi'nbination with a pressure fluid supply pipe, a mai.

pressure fluid control valve, an exhaust valve] in the supply pipe between the main valve and the. outlet end of the supply pipe, a motor and a timing device driven thereby, said exhaust valve operating to cut ofi' the flo'iv of `pressure fluid through the supply pipe and open 'the down-stream portion of' the supply pipe to exhaust, and also operating to control the supply and exhaust ,of pressure fluid for the said motor, a ,timing .valve controlled by the timing device for controlH ling the exhaust valve, and a pressure fluid actuated timing valve plunger operatively connected to regulate the timino` valve independently or" the timing device.

5. In a timing device, the combination with a pressure fluid supply pipe, a main pressure fluid control valve, an exhaust valve located inthe main supply pipe between the main valve and the outlet end of 'the supply pipe, a motor and cam Wheel Vtiming device driven thereby, said exhaust valve operating to cut off the flow of pressure fluid through the supply pipe and to open the outlet end of the supply pil.A to exhaust, and also operating to control the supply and exhaust of pressure fluid lor the said motor, a cam valve controlled by said cam Wheel timing device for controlling the exhaust valve, and a pressure fluid actuated cam valve plunger' operatively connected to regulate the timing valve independently of the cam Wheel.

6. In a timing device, the combination with. a pressure fluid supply pipe, -a main pressure fluid control valve, an exhaust valve Y motor.

located in the main supplyk pipe'between the main valve andthe outlet end of the supply pipe, said exhaustvalve operating to eut off the flow of' pressure fluid through ythe supply pipe and open the outlet end of the supply pipe toexhaust, a` motor and cam Wheel timing device driven thereby, a motor pilot valve controlled by the exhaust valve, a Cam valve controlled by said earn Wheel timing device for controlling the exhaust valve, and a pressure fluid actuated earn valve plunger' operatively connected to regulate the timingV valve independently of the earn Wheel.

7. In a timing device, the combination with a pressure fluid supply pipe, of a main pres sure fluid Control valve, an exhaust valve located in the supply pipe between the main 'l valve and the point of pressure fluid deliv`` ery, a motor to Which the supply and exhaust of pressure fluid is controlled by the exhaust valve, and a timing device driven by said motor.

8. In a `timing device, the combination with a pressure fluid supply pipe, of a main pressure fluid control valve, an exhaust valve located in the supply pipe between the main valve and the point of pressure fluid delivery, a motor to Which the supply and exhaust of pressure fluid is controlled by the exhaust Valve, means tovregulate the speed of the motor, and ya timing device driven by said In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

SNGWDEN B. REDFIELD. 

